The US Navy has selected Virginia-based CoAspire to develop an affordable, ground-launched cruise missile for US allies and coalition partners capable of striking land and moving maritime targets.
Based on CoAspire’s Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile-Extended Range (RAACM-ER), the weapon combines a booster with a launcher system to create a surface-launched missile.
The weapon is being developed under a $70-million Prototype Other Transaction Agreement for the Coalition Heterogeneous Affordable Offensive Strike program, which is intended for foreign military sales customers.
According to CoAspire CEO and founder Doug Denneny, the RAACM-ER, which can be launched from aircraft, land, and submarines, has a potential range of about 900 kilometers (559 miles).
The ground-launched version combines GPS-assisted navigation with a long-wave infrared seeker, enabling it to engage both fixed and moving targets. The passive seeker is immune to radiofrequency jamming and decoys while emitting no signals that could reveal its approach during terminal homing.
“CoAspire is thrilled to support the US Navy with this much-needed, affordable, mid-range maritime strike weapon,” Denneny said.
“We, and our 56 first-tier suppliers across almost every state, are excited to support PMX-201, NAVAIR, and our coalition partners with an affordable cruise missile solution.”
Affordable Cruise Missile
CoAspire said the RAACM uses additive manufacturing to maximize payload capacity while eliminating the need for traditional tooling, reducing labor and enabling rapid design changes.
The approach could shorten the development of new missile variants from years to months.
The navy selection follows RAACM’s selection for the US Air Force’s Family of Affordable Mass Missiles program, which aims to rapidly field low-cost, long-range cruise missiles at scale.
Already test-launched from an aircraft, the RAACM shares the same physical dimensions as the 500-pound (227-kilogram) Mk 82 general-purpose bomb and GBU-38 guided bomb, enabling compatibility with any aircraft capable of carrying the GBU-38.
Company-provided imagery shows the missile integrated with platforms including the F-15E Strike Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F-35 Lightning II.
According to CoAspire, the ground-launched configuration is comparable to the RAACM-ER GHOST variant being offered for the Pentagon’s Low-Cost Containerized Munition program.
